Security Digest · Vulnerability record · Known exploited

CVE-2021-43798: Grafana Path Traversal Vulnerability

Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). Grafana is an open-source platform for monitoring and observability.

CISA KEV · added 2025-10-09 CVSS 7.5 High EPSS 88.5% · p99.8

Should you act?

Exploited: patch now if you run it

CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. This signal is computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS data; it is not an editorial verdict.

  • Yes, if you run Grafana Labs Grafana. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-10-09, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2025-10-30; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
  • EPSS 88.5%, percentile 99.8: FIRST’s model estimates a 88.5% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99.8% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
  • Remotely reachable with no login and no user interaction. If the vulnerable service is exposed to the internet, prioritize it.

What it is

Grafana is an open-source platform for monitoring and observability. Grafana versions 8.0.0-beta1 through 8.3.0 (except for patched versions) iss vulnerable to directory traversal, allowing access to local files. The vulnerable URL path is: /public/plugins//, where is the plugin ID for any installed plugin. At no time has Grafana Cloud been vulnerable. Users are advised to upgrade to patched versions 8.0.7, 8.1.8, 8.2.7, or 8.3.1. The GitHub Security Advisory contains more information about vulnerable URL paths, mitigation, and the disclosure timeline.

CISA’s summary

Grafana contains a path traversal vulnerability that could allow access to local files.

Weakness type: CWE-22.

Product: Grafana Labs Grafana · Assigned by: GitHub_M · Published: 2021-12-07

Affected and fixed versions

VendorProductAffected versions (per CVE record)
grafanagrafana>= 8.0.0, < 8.0.7, >= 8.1.0, < 8.1.8, >= 8.2.0, < 8.2.7, = 8.3.0

Severity scores

Scored byCVSSScoreVector
GitHub_M3.17.5 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
  • Attack vector: network (remotely reachable)
  • Attack complexity: low
  • Privileges required: none (no login)
  • User interaction: none
  • Scope: unchanged

CVSS measures how bad a flaw is if exploited, not how likely exploitation is. Read it next to the exploitation data below.

Exploitation and urgency

  • CISA KEV: added 2025-10-09; federal due date 2025-10-30. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
  • CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
  • CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active, automatable yes, technical impact partial.
  • FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 88.50% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.8.

Timeline

  • — CVE record published by GitHub_M
  • — Added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
  • — CVE record last updated
  • — CISA remediation deadline for US federal agencies

Sources and references

Original sources first. Version and fix details should always be confirmed against the vendor or project advisory.

Vendor and project advisories, patches

  1. Listed in CISA KEV notes (grafana.com) grafana.com

Vulnerability records

  1. CVE.org record CVE-2021-43798 cve.org
  2. NVD entry CVE-2021-43798 nvd.nist.gov

Government

  1. CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry cisa.gov

Other references from the CVE record and advisory

  1. github.com github.com
  2. github.com github.com
  3. packetstormsecurity.com packetstormsecurity.com
  4. grafana.com grafana.com
  5. packetstormsecurity.com packetstormsecurity.com
  6. [oss-security] 20211209 CVE-2021-43798 Grafana directory traversal openwall.com
  7. [oss-security] 20211210 CVE-2021-43813 and CVE-2021-43815 - Grafana directory traversal for some .md and .csv files openwall.com
  8. security.netapp.com security.netapp.com

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